Turkey’s intelligence chief has held rare meetings in the eastern part of Libya controlled by military commander Khalifa Haftar, as Ankara seeks to project influence across the Mediterranean.
Ibrahim Kalin, a close confidant of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, met Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar and his son, newly appointed second in command Saddam Haftar, in Benghazi. Turkish media described it as the first high-level visit there in years by Turkish officials.
From the city, Khalifa Haftar runs a rival authority to the Libyan government in Tripoli that is traditionally backed by Turkey.
Khalifa Haftar’s talks with Mr Kalin focused on reviewing “significant developments in relations” and tackling illegal migration, the Benghazi government’s military media office said. The meeting with Saddam Haftar focused on enhancing Libya-Turkey co-operation “in the fields of intelligence and security”, it added.
The meetings followed a visit by a Turkish military delegation to Benghazi port, where a Turkish naval vessel, the TCG Kinaliada, conducted joint exercises with patrol boats from Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army.
That visit, which took place last week, was confirmed on Monday by Turkey’s Defence Ministry, and focused on “joint efforts under the goal of 'One Libya, One Army'”, the ministry said on X.
The split in 2014 between Libya’s eastern and western factions intensified hostilities that broke out after a 2011 Nato-backed uprising ousted long-time autocrat Muammar Qaddafi. A truce in 2020 eased fighting but the security situation remains precarious, the UN says.
In 2019, Khalifa Haftar’s forces said they had cut all ties with Turkey and that all Turkish commercial flights or ships trying to access Libya would be treated as hostile. In January the following year, Turkey sent in troops to back the rival Government of National Unity (GNU) in Tripoli, Libya’s internationally recognised authority.
But in recent months Ankara appears to have attempted to improve relations with Haftar forces. Saddam Haftar visited Ankara in April this year and Turkey has reappointed a consul general to Benghazi. Turkish Airlines currently runs direct flights to Benghazi, as well as Tripoli and the city of Misurata in north-western Libya.
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Gremio Everton 95’
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Lexus LX700h specs
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Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
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All times UTC 4
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Toyota land Cruiser 2020 5.7L VXR
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
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TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
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The UN-brokered ceasefire deal for Hodeidah will be implemented in two stages, with the first to be completed before the New Year begins, according to the Arab Coalition supporting the Yemeni government.
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The second stage will be the complete withdrawal of all pro-government forces and rebels from Hodeidah city, to be completed by midnight on January 7.
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Power: 181hp
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Specs
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- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Biography
Favourite book: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Holiday choice: Anything Disney-related
Proudest achievement: Receiving a presidential award for foreign services.
Family: Wife and three children.
Like motto: You always get what you ask for, the universe listens.
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• Rikki Olds, 25
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• Suzanne Fountain, 59
• Teri Leiker, 51
• Eric Talley, 51
• Kevin Mahoney, 61
• Lynn Murray, 62
• Jody Waters, 65
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AT4 Ultimate, as tested
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Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
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6.20pm: West Acre
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Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Dominic Bess, James Bracey, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Ben Foakes, Lewis Gregory, Keaton Jennings, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Amar Virdi, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
The national orchestra
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Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
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Tottenhan Hotspur 2 Roma 3
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Torque: 555Nm @ 2,750rpm
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If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
